“You little wretch, who taught you to harm my son?!”
All day she hunted hawks, and today the hawk pecked her eye!
Madam Jiang was so enraged that her chest ached. Cursing, she raised her hand and slapped Chen Chunsi hard.
Chen Chunsi could have dodged, but did not. With a cry she fell, half‑reclining on the floor, weeping.
He Baoyan rushed to lift her, reproach in his voice. “Mother, Chunsi is carrying a child—how could you strike her?”
Xiao Yunzhu’s clear bright eyes widened in feigned puzzlement. “Aunt, adding a new life is a blessing. Why are you not pleased?”
She admitted she was not broad‑minded, inclined to repay slights. If someone made her unhappy, she would make them unhappy in return. Her aunt had often, seemingly casually, remarked that she was too frail, her waist too slender, her fingers too fine—not the sort to bear children.
Well then, here was one “fit for childbearing.” Pleased? More like horrified.
Madam Jiang could not tell if Xiao Yunzhu was pretending to be foolish or truly was, and snapped, “Yunzhu, Baoyan is your betrothed husband!”
She could accept her son having a concubine’s child, but not before marriage—and certainly not with the old madam’s kin as the mother.
Xiao Yunzhu said lightly, “That’s no problem. If I break the betrothal, Cousin can marry Miss Chen.”
Madam Jiang’s spirits lifted. Could Xiao Yunzhu truly be willing to withdraw? Amid the chaos, this was the only good news.
But Xiao Yunzhu continued, “In my humble view, Cousin and Miss Chen should wed quickly, or the matter can no longer be concealed.”
Madam Jiang’s face darkened. “Wed? Don’t talk nonsense!”
The Third Young Master’s wife could never be a pauper’s daughter. She had already deemed noble‑born Xiao Yunzhu unworthy; how could she accept Chen Chunsi? In her plan, Chen Chunsi was only a pawn to be discarded once used.
Xiao Yunzhu smiled to herself. “The wedding is near, Aunt must be busy. I won’t add to the confusion. I’ll go tell Grandmother the happy news.” She bowed and withdrew.
“Yunzhu, don’t—” He Baoyan panicked, reaching to stop her. But as he moved, Chen Chunsi lost her balance and fell again. He had to turn back to steady her. By the time he looked up, Xiao Yunzhu was already gone. He hurried after her, but Madam Jiang ordered servants to block him.
Sweat broke across his brow. “Mother, send someone after Yunzhu! I won’t break the betrothal! This mustn’t reach Grandmother!”
When Xiao Yunzhu spoke of breaking it, he thought she was only venting, not serious. Ten years engaged—could it all be ruined because he took a concubine?
Besides, Xiao Yunzhu had lost her father and brothers, had no siblings, and her mother was secluded in the Buddha hall. She was almost an orphan. The He family was her closest kin. How could she dare break the betrothal?
But now he was truly afraid.
Madam Jiang’s face was grim. “Wretched child, you’ve made this mess—let’s see how you clean it up!”
She had never dared propose breaking the betrothal outright, partly because she knew her son loved Xiao Yunzhu, longed to marry her. No matter how many faults she listed, he dismissed them as trifles. If she forced a break, mother and son might turn against each other.
He Baoyan stared toward the door. “First, bring Yunzhu back!”
She had smiled all along, but her bearing was utterly resolute. So resolute it felt unfamiliar, frightening. As though he were about to lose her.
Madam Jiang was deeply troubled. Pointing at Chen Chunsi, she demanded, “And what is to be done with her?”
As for chasing back Xiao Yunzhu—impossible. Forever impossible. She wished Xiao Yunzhu would walk away even faster.
He Baoyan spoke without hesitation: “After I marry Yunzhu, then I’ll bring Chunsi in.”
Seeing that he wasn’t insisting on admitting Chen Chunsi first, Madam Jiang felt a flicker of relief. But then she realized—he valued Xiao Yunzhu more than Chen Chunsi and the child. At once, her relief vanished. In truth, whether Xiao Yunzhu or Chen Chunsi prevailed, she was vexed. Best if both were ruined.
She turned on Chen Chunsi with disgust. “Did you hear what the Third Young Master said?”
Chen Chunsi answered faintly, “I heard.” Inside, she was numb with pain. So this was how little she and the child weighed in his heart. One word of “breaking the betrothal” from Xiao Yunzhu, and he lost his wits, forgetting all he had promised her.
Men—lustful and faithless.
She tugged at He Baoyan’s sleeve, forcing a pale smile. “Third Young Master, go quickly after Sister Yunzhu. I’ll be fine!”
He Baoyan thought her sensible, felt guilty, and tried to comfort her. “Chunsi, even if the child is born first, it doesn’t matter. Raised in the household, no one will dare laugh.”
Since Xiao Yunzhu minded Chen Chunsi entering first, he would abandon the idea.
Even Madam Jiang, his own mother, found his words hollow and cold. But Chen Chunsi smiled softly. “The Third Young Master is right.”
He Baoyan felt her all the more considerate, and promised, “Don’t worry. I won’t neglect you or the child.”
Tears shimmered in Chen Chunsi’s eyes. She whispered obediently, “Good. Go now, don’t mind me…” Then she tilted her head and collapsed limply into his arms.
Madam Jiang: Fake to the core!
She knew Chen Chunsi was only trying to hold He Baoyan back, but did not expose her.
He Baoyan, however, was terrified, clutching her and crying out, “Chen Chunsi! Chen Chunsi! What’s wrong? Wake up!”
Madam Jiang cursed her foolish son under her breath, ordered a doctor, and set about cleaning up the mess.
Meanwhile, in Shou’an Hall, Xiao Yunzhu had already recounted the events and her decision.
Old Madam He was stunned, furious, then after a long silence, she said sorrowfully, “Yunzhu, it is your grandmother who has wronged you…”
But Xiao Yunzhu, full of filial devotion, could not bear her self‑reproach. “Grandmother, this is not your fault. You brought Chen Chunsi into the household out of kindness. Kindness is never wrong. The fault lies with them—Chen Chunsi for lacking self‑respect, and Cousin for breaking propriety.” She paused, then added with bitter humor, “And also, Aunt and Uncle do not want me.”
Her uncle was smooth and worldly—warm and kind before Grandmother, but cold behind her back, just like Aunt.
In the whole He family, the only one who still wished to honor the betrothal was Grandmother.
Old Madam He’s heart ached beyond words. Choking up, she said, “My Zhu Zhu is so good, so good—how can they not see it!”
She knew in her heart that the problem was not Chen Chunsi, but her eldest son and daughter‑in‑law. They had long wished to break the match. She had seen it, but thought that with her authority, they would not dare. Once Xiao Yunzhu married in and bore a child, all would be settled. She had not expected them to feign obedience while scheming in secret.
Enough. Enough. No need to force it.